Late Summer
Leschi Elementary School Projects
Each summer we fill over 120 backpacks for children in need at Leschi Elementary. See details at h-nt.org/backpack. But there is still plenty of work to be done to help these children who are just seven miles from HNT. Join our corps of tutors by the end of October, or donate winter clothes to keep growing kids in weather-appropriate clothing through the colder months.
Fall
JFS High Holiday Food Drive & Sort
During the High Holidays, HNT collects non-perishable food for the Jewish Family Service Polack Food Bank. Volunteers participate in the JFS Food Sort every year, loading up the food collected at HNT and joining hundreds of other volunteers at JFS to sort the food and stock the pantry. To volunteer, email FoodSort@h-nt.org.For questions about this year’s drive, email volunteer@jfsseattle.org.
Congregations for the Homeless Fundraiser
Congregations for the Homeless (CFH) strives to mitigate the pain of homelessness by providing meals and basic needs to men on the eastside. HNT has formed a special relationship with CFH by providing monthly shelter meals. We support them further by filling tables at their annual fundraiser. Come hear first-hand accounts of the lifechanging impacts this organization has made, or make a donation. Please email Programming@h-nt.org if you can join our table.
Winter
Winter Clothing Collection for Leschi Elementary & ROOTS
Leschi Elementary School has 80 homeless children in need. ROOTS (Rising Out Of The Shadows) is a shelter for young adults, many of whom have aged out of the foster system. We’d like to give these kids and young adults clothing to keep them warm through winter: new or nearly new winter coats, and new socks, gloves, and scarves.
JFS Holiday Gift Drive
Help give kids in need a happier holiday season by donating gifts through Jewish Family Service. We will provide a sign-up form with specific gifts needed which should be dropped off unwrapped. Once all the gifts have been collected, we will coordinate a ‘wrapping party’ before they are delivered.
Refugee Household Collection
Jewish Family Service has hundreds of clients overseas who have already been extensively vetted and are awaiting resettlement in the US. These families are fleeing inhumane situations in their countries of origin, and come to the US without even basic household items. In some years HNT helps families by providing a full household (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and general items) upon arrival, and Wish Lists of items for individual families who have recently been resettled in other years. If you would like to rally a group of your friends to sponsor one of these families, contribute to a household collection, help with a “Packing Party,” or have questions, email Refugees@h-nt.org.
The Sophia Way Volunteer Day
The Sophia Way is committed to helping end homelessness for women by providing shelter, social services, and permanent housing with support. Our group volunteers in Sophia’s Closet, the donation room at the Day Center, managing incoming donations and keeping the room organized.
Jewish Community Legislative Priorities & Lobby Day
In the fall, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle emails out surveys for the community to give input on public policy priorities. Please check your inbox and let your voice be heard! Then in February, we journey to Olympia for a day of lobbying for those issues that matter most to our Jewish community.
Spring
Annual Blood Drive
This event honors the memory and last wish of Ellen Yusim z”l, a teenage congregant whose family was sponsored by our synagogue when they resettled in Seattle from the former Soviet Union. Since the pandemic, HNT has also been hosting Pop-Up Blood Drives in our Feinberg Social Hall every two months. Sign up for our next drive at this link (the same link is used anytime new dates are posted).
Eastside Baby Corner Volunteer Day
Eastside Baby Corner serves as a diaper bank, clothing bank, and food source for more than 800 kids across King County each week. HNT organizes a group to fill orders and sort donations of baby clothes, items and gear.
Personal Needs Pouch Collection & Assembly
Lend a helping hand when it is needed most by donating and assembling pouches filled with toiletry items that will be donated to Harborview Medical Center for distribution to families who end up there unexpectedly.
Summer
JFS Harvesting for the Food Bank
Help collect fresh produce from the Capitol Hill Farmers Market for Polack Food Bank clients on the second & fourth Sundays of the month. The Food Bank serves food insecure households in the Capitol Hill, Central District, and downtown Seattle neighborhoods; as well as vulnerable members of the Jewish community in the Puget Sound region. The Food Bank is a critical piece of the food security system for our most vulnerable community members. RSVP to volunteer@jfsseattle.org or (206) 861-3153.
SummeRun & Walk for Ovarian Cancer Research
Since 1993, the SummeRun has raised over $13 million towards ovarian cancer research. Each year, the HNT Athletes team gathers to participate in loving memory of HNT members Marsha Rivkin, Babs Fisher and Gail Stulberg. Money raised from the SummeRun helps the Marsha Rivkin Center in its mission to save lives and reduce suffering through improved treatment, early detection, and prevention of ovarian cancer. Join our team, HNT Athletes, beginning in June at h-nt.org/SummeRun.
